Nine years ago, Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell to start her life over as a bookstore owner. Her inability to trust people made it hard for her to find a place in the small community until Jessica Lawson moved to town and befriended the shy beauty.
But there was one person in Hartwell who tried to befriend Emery long before Jessica arrived… is that he fell hard for Emery the moment she appeared in Hartwell. Another is that his father blackmailed him into covering up a dark family tragedy. It forced Jack to sever his relationships to protect the people he cared about. Yet, staying away from Emery has not been easy throughout the years and he hasn’t always succeeded. When Jack’s mixed signals hurt Emery once again, she puts him out of her heart for good.
Until the Devlin family secret is finally revealed, freeing Jack from his father’s machinations. What Jack wants more than anything is to repair his relationships, starting with Emery.
However, Emery isn’t ready to forgive and Jack’s not ready to give up.
And when the town’s latest scandal ties Jack and Emery together, Jack is not above using their new reality to prove to Emery once and for all that their love is worthy of the legend of Hart’s Boardwalk.
more
4.5 Stars
Emery and Jack.
We all remember them.
She’s the quiet and super shy coffee shop / book store owner billionaire heiress. And he is the son of the town’s villain.
In the first part of the book we go back to when Emery arrived in town almost a decade ago. We see how she met Jack and how they kind of fell for each other instantly. But we also see how it’s not really happening for them through the years. Jack is too deep into dirty business with his family and he doesn’t want to drag Emery into it.
And then we’re finally in the here and now …
What will happen with Emery & Jack?
Will we get our happily ever after?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
Finally Emery & Jack’s story!
We were waiting for them to finally get their happily ever after for what seems like centuries!
And their story was beautiful!
But also so very heartbreaking and sad – especially in all the back-in-time moments. It was just never their time. Ugh. So sad. But now they can finally try it for reals – but destiny has some more obstacles available first. LOL. Poor Jemery. Emerack???
It takes them a long while to get that happily ever after – 9 years – but we’ll get there!
And the reader has an amazing time watching them fight for that happy end!
I didn’t really love-love the whole back and forth through the years. It was just too long. And then in the end I wanted them together so much faster, but they were still a bit too stupid to get it right.
I wanted to slap them both a few times. But I still loved reading this so much!
I love that this is a mature series. Those couples are all in their thirties …. we don’t have any immature 21-year-olds running around.
I also loved that we got to see all the other people in town again. And I SO need more stories for some of them – even the new generation. I see an amazing enemies-to-lovers story coming in 20 years!
Beautiful series!
THE TRUEST THING was a sweet & heartbreaking & sparky kinda-2nd-3rd-chance-love-story! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Jack – this one is MINE!
The Truest Thing is the long-awaited, much-anticipated conclusion to Samantha Young’s Hart’s Boardwalk series. And it is a fitting end to this enjoyable series.
I think that Young does a great job of establishing a push-pull dynamic between Emery and Jack that feels authentic, if not a little unhealthy at times. Readers of this series are finally able to pull the curtain back and glance at why Jack has done the things that he’s done, and it mostly works. There were a couple of times I wanted to shake both characters, but that made them feel more real to me.
I was swept up by the story, and even though it incorporates a few tropes that I don’t care for (which I won’t spoil here) Young made it all work for me. A must-read for those who love this series.
For so long I have been waiting for the true story behind the actions of the super shy Emery Saunders and the supposed to be villain from the rest of the series Jack Devlin.
The secrets coming to the surface have captured me right from the start.
We get to know the story behind the story and it’s heartwrenching and breathtaking all in one.
Samantha Young did soooo good again with the fourth book in the series.
I cried, I laughed, I felt and hurt for them.
An epic end to the series, which personally hope wasn’t the end at all.
Emery and Jack’s book has been one of the most anticipated releases for this year, and the story that Samantha Young has weaved together for these two certainly did not disappoint. There’s a lot of angst, which, of course, made me a happy camper–ironic, I know–because I do love me my angst. For those who are familiar with the series and have seen Emery and Jack as supporting characters, well, now we all finally get their complete back stories and get a better understanding of how they became the people that we meet. Heartbreak is to be expected, considering how Jack treated Emery time and again, but their story is ultimately one of the healing power of love and how the truest kind of love is worth fighting for. Aside from celebrating love, this book also highlights the importance of friendship and the family we oftentimes create for ourselves because of those friendships. The Truest Thing was everything I could have ever hoped for. Kudos to the author for this five-starred read.
Anyone who has been following this series knows how much Jack Devlin has changed and how dangerous his family is. In Truest Thing we will find out the reason behind his change and behavior in recent years.
Get ready for bombshell and heart-rending revelations. Jack Devlin is much more than meets the eye and his secret love for Emery will explode on the pages of this book. It’s okay that the guy doesn’t quite know how to show this love and makes a mistake after another but that’s what shows the boy’s fragility and vulnerability.
Emery knows some secrets but doesn’t understand why he can’t fight for their love. Perhaps she is not aware that loving Jack can be far more dangerous than she imagines. I really liked the participation of the characters from the previous books and how strong and full of surprises it turns out Emery is, and I liked how it all worked out in the end.
3,5/5 stars
A nice conclusion to the Hart’s Boardwalk Series.
You want angst, well, you’ll get it all right!
I had really, really hard times with jack’s decisions, and sometimes, near the end, with Emery too.
Those two can be stubborn, that’s for sure!
I almost couldn’t forgive Jack’s actions, during all those years, but maybe I wasn’t in the best place when I put my hands on this book, because with The Truest Thing, ladies, you’re in for a lot of drama, secrets and betrayals.
But Samantha Young is here to save the day, with her wonderful writing.
Get ready for a roller coaster of emotions!!!
***ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.blog
As an avid reader of Samantha Young’s romances and storytelling, I couldn’t wait for Emery Saunders and Jack Devlin to finally have their story told in Young’s Hart’s Boardwalk series. Since Emery moved to Hartwell nine years ago, there’s been a connection building between her and Jack, but it’s one that seems to come and go, depending on Jack’s behavior and the secrets that he is obviously keeping.
In order to understand Emery and Jack’s present situation, it’s necessary to learn about their past interactions, feelings, and issues. These two have known each other for almost a decade, which means they share quite the entangled past, and Young provides readers with all of the moments that seemed to define their friendship as well as those that left both of them with a menagerie of feelings for each other and very little consistent forward progress to anything more.
The way Young crafts Emery and Jack’s story makes it evident how these two truly feel about each other, but it never seemed to be the right time for them, for a number of reasons, and while those obstacles seem to become less of a hindrance in the present, the damage had already been done when it comes to what Emery is willing to endure and/or give up for the man she wants; only so many mixed signals and missed opportunities can exist until it feels futile to keep trying to get close to someone…to give your heart to someone…to wonder what’s wrong with you that the man you want can’t ever fully commit to you.
The Truest Thing is quite a symbolic title for Emery and Jack’s story, not only because Jack’s truth is buried so deep due to his father’s sins that there’s a lot to unpack and understand but also because what clearly is between these two is as real and as true as a relationship should be, they just need to remind themselves of that and find away to let go of their fears and their struggles and be honest and open together.
Weaving the past and the present together can be a difficult task for an author to convey because of pacing…some readers find it unnecessary to learn so many details about the characters’ backstories and would much rather remain in the present, but because Emery and Jack’s relationship starts and stops, moves forward then backward, it’s essential to know why Emery is less apt to continue and Jack has to work to prove himself to her all over again.
4.5 Poison Apples
This is a book that will stay with you for a long time. I have been waiting for Emery and Jack’s story for a while. As with all the Hartwell books I went through so many emotions. I was frustrated, angry, sad ,balling my eyes out, my heart melted, but I also wanted to slap some sense into them both. There are also so many twists and turns. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s full of angst. I was not disappointed.
Emery and Jack’s story began nine years ago. Emery moved to Hartwell to open up her very own bookstore. Emery has always had trouble talking with strangers. Yes, she is shy but she also just feels very awkward around people. But when Emery and Jack meet, Jack makes Emery feel brave and a sort of friendship begins.
Boy o boy.. where to start?! This book was just so damn good!! I mean.. Wow!! The thing with a book you’re looking forward to so much and for such a long time is, that it can easily disappoint. I mean, you thought about it so long and you’ve imagined how things would go. Well, I did that.. but still this book definitely didn’t disappoint at all.
Emery’s characters is one of my all time favorites. I love the fact she is a bookshop owner and is a little shy. I can definitely relate to that a lot. Those moments I read about her feeling awkward.. I could easily imagine how she must feel. And I loved that. And then Jack’s character. Every time I read a little bit about him in one of the other four books, I thought there just had to be more to his behavior than we knew. And I’m so excited to finally ‘know’ what happened to him and why he acted the way he did. Sure, he was definitely an ass.. but he had his reasons.
The romance between Emery and Jack was really good. It kept me hooked from the very first page and definitely gave me butterflies. And I loved how we got to read about them throughout the years. Their story was definitely a slow burn one.. but things got pretty damn hot when they finally connected.
I also really enjoyed the ending of this book. We got to read a little about all the other characters in the series. It gave the feeling this was the last book in the series.. which I don’t hope because I’m still curious about Ivy’s story, but it was nice to read.
‘The Truest Thing’ was a great read that gave me all the feelings. I loved every moment from beginning till the end. And if you haven’t read a book in the Hart’s Boardwalk series, I’d recommend you start soon.
I’ve been waiting for Jack and Emery’s story!! The angst, chemistry as well as the twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Another great read in this series.
Oh my wow. This series just keeps getting better and better. No matter what Cooper and Jessica will always be my all time favorite couple. But oh wow with Jack and Emery. The emotional roller coaster, just gave me amazing whiplash. Each chapter kept me wanting more and more. Jack had me from either wanting to smack him, to wanting to just hug him. I absolutely love Emery’s character from start to finish and from the previous books as well. Once again Samantha Young does not disappoint. This is a must read!!
10 stars for this amazing read!
I was patiently waiting for this book since I read the second in the series.
Emery and Jack are both very mysterious characters. And I love that about them. I really do. We learn so much about them. It was a very interesting read. Samantha made it unputdownable!
It is a mix of romance, crime and mystery. Especiallly mystery. You never know what to expect on the next page. So interesting. I was hooked right in. I also love the involvement of main characters form previous books. It makes the book that more special. We learn a lot about them too. They feel like a family to me.
We follow Jack and Emery stories right from the beginning. When they first met 9 years ago. It was amazing to see that from Jack’s eyes. He was always so cold and collected and when you read his thoughts? Priceless, it really is. He is a good guy turned bad. And we get to know why. No more mystery about him. So refreshing. This was building through all the books. It was time to learn the truth.
We also learn what’s behind Emery’s shyness and why she is so closed off to everyone.
This is my favorite of the series and top three of all of Samantha’s books!!
She did it again! Well I never really doubted that! Good job!
Also my favorite book of 2020!! So delicious.
I received an earc from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I absolutely love this series so much. Small town romances are a weakness for me but the romances and character building in this series is fantastic. The secondary characters are all back from prior books and all their stories continue and develop. This is the one book I’d been waiting for because I adore Emery, the smart and shy bookstore/coffee store owner who gets flustered around most people. And of course the town good guy who turned bad guy, Jack Delvin who I was rooting for to get a book and to have a good reason for all the bad he’s done.
The Truest Thing follows Emery, the shy owner of the local and favorite coffee shop in Hart’s Boardwalk. The story goes from past to present in how she and Jack meet, their connection, their openness and the eventual betrayal that turned Jack in the the new town bad guy. Emery is the one person who knows the truth with Jack and the one person that knows deep down he is not who everyone thinks.
Emery really opened up in this book, I loved seeing her grown from shy and sweet to becoming more bold and starting to let others in. Her background is dug into more and the readers will learn more about her family. With Jack the readers get to see the true working of the Devlin family, that not everyone is who they think. Their family is so torn and I felt bad for everyone involved, its heartbreaking. Overall this story really hits all the feels and I wanted a happy ending, you’ll get frustrated with the characters but totally understand why they do what they do.
Overall this was by far my favorite out of the season, I loved how we still get to see they past characters grow in their relationships and how their lives effect the new couple. Young knows her characters and puts so much love and heart into them. I cant wait for the next story, as everyone will know who the next in line is to focus on.
WOW— to any readers or wonder about picking up a Samantha Young book–DO IT! She is definitely one of my top 3 authors who will take you on such a great journey. When I read her books, I feel like I am right there in the middle and I go through so many emotions!!
Okay, so I was SO excited to read this book because I absolutely love The Boardwalk Series— it has become one of my favorites. I was so looking forward to reading about Jack and Emery…. OKAY….SO if you haven’t read the book STOP READING HERE….. below will contain some spoilers!!
First off, I am definitely a picky/sensitive reader. When I dive into a romance book I want ROMANCE, so when there H is a manwhore (after he meets the h) than typically I am out. I don’t want to read about the H sleeping around with other women– NO THANKS! Cheating is a HARD NO— as well as a long distance between the H and the h getting together. It absolutely drives me NUTS when you know they both love one another but something keeps them apart for years and years. I just get so freaking frustrated that some of the best years they spend apart!!!! So with that said, this book touches on A LOT of those subjects…..First off, they had a 9 year gap where Jack had a push/pull thing with Emery. Not only that, but you got a glimpse of Jack at the beginning and what a great guy he was and then things took a turn for the worse. I am not going to lie, I had a hard time liking Jack with some of the things he did. Yes, I get that he was trying to protect his family and friends but did the good really outweigh the bad with how it affected Emery? I mean he totally just burned their connection to the ground time and time again. I kept praying that when it came out he slept with both Dana and Vanessa that he just made it APPEAR they had but NOPE—he did. He literally prostituted himself out because he thought it protect people–this made me so angry. I was SO happy when Emery pretty much told him to F*** off! I almost wished that during those 9 years he had to watch her with someone else while HE REMAINED CELIBATE SO HE GOT A TASTE! Ugh! I was so mad….
Now, I will tell you– if you are like me and a sensitive reader to some of these subjects– Samantha Young WILL make it worth it to read! She always makes a strong heroine that will bring the H to his knees and beg for forgiveness. Her heroines NEVER just give in —she makes the H work for it and lemme tell ya, Emery really did make Jack work for it! It really does help make up for some of the things Jack did in the past but I still have some residual anger towards him….just a little.
A love story 9 years in the making. Jack and Emery don’t have a lot of interaction over the nine years, but what they do have is intense. There are many reasons they can’t be together. Can they somehow find the way to each other? It’s a long, emotional journey.
4 Stars!
Nine years ago Emery Saunders moved to the small tourist beach town called Hartwell in Delaware’s Cape Region to start over and follow her dreams of opening up a bookstore cafe. For so long the quiet, shy bookworm was lonely as she tried to figure out where she fit in her community. Then she finds the people who accept her just as she is. She’s grateful for the friendships she’s made, but hasn’t had luck in the romance department. The one man she found irresistible was also the black sheep of the town. Jack Devlin is gorgeous with the kindest eyes she’s ever seen, but questionable character. She isn’t quite sure what to think of him. He was a bit of a mystery, and full of mixed signals. She tires of the push and pull between them, and is done letting him toy with her emotions.
Jack Devlin’s life is full of secrets, drama and chaos. He’s tried to break away from his toxic family, but eventually gets sucked back in. The only bright spot in his life is Emery. She’s sunshine and goodness. He wanted her from the moment he first laid eyes on her, but she could never be his. Through the years he’s tried to stay away from her, and severed relationships to protect those he cares about most. That didn’t change the fact she was still all he could see. As time passed it became harder to ignore his feelings. He hardly recognized the angry person he’d become, but when everything is out in the open will love conquer all? Can Jack convince Emery to trust him with her heart?
The Truest Thing, A Hart’s Boardwalk novel by Samantha Young is an emotional, captivating friends to lovers romance full of angst, heartbreak, scandal, forgiveness, and love. A tortured hero and his beauty with trust issues. We follow their story from the past when they first meet all the way to the present as questions are answered, and secrets and truths are revealed. Their journey was rocky and full of obstacles, but beautiful. I really loved this couple and also the friendships in this series!
To be honest, I somehow skipped the third book in the Hart’s Boardwalk series. I was going to try to read it before this release but I didn’t get around to it. Luckily, the first half of this book was summing up Jack and Emery’s relationship over the previous nine years and it covered the important events of the third book. I use the word “relationship” to describe Jack and Emery during this time loosely. There’s clearly a burning attraction between them and it is sometimes acted on and they probably love each other but they’re not in a relationship in any traditional sense. Jack has been the unwilling accomplice of the previous books’ villain, his father Ian. Halfway through this book, however, he is able to step out from that cloud and start to make amends and live his life his own way. Which includes finally being open about wanting a relationship with Emery. By the time he gets to that point, Emery is done with giving Jack chances.
Personally, by the halfway point, and after spending so much time in the back story of Jack and Emery, I honestly thought the book was over. I was surprised to realize that I was only at 50%. The second half of the book was mostly Jack trying to win back Emery’s trust. With some much crammed in to the first half, the second half was slower going. It was a couple who both clearly loved each other but where one was terrified to trust the other with her heart.
I liked Emery as a character and not just because she owns a book store. She’s shy, slow to make friends but fiercely loyal when she does, and has been burned in the past. She has learned to make her own happiness and even though she does want Jack, she’s right to be wary of risking her heart to someone who has spent nine years jerking it around. I found myself rooting for Emery even as Jack tried to chip away at her heart.
I did enjoy this story and I was especially a fan of the shy and quiet heroine standing up for herself but be prepared for how the story line is divided.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I am so happy that Samantha gave us Jack and Emery’s story. I was curious about them since they made their debut in book 1.
Their story starts 9 years before present time. I wasn’t sure about the flashback part of the book(it’s about 30%), but without it we wouldn’t have understood them. Theirs was kind of love at first sight: since Em made an appearance at Cooper’s bar and Jack saw here, there was something that tugged them together.
Emery is shy, an introvert and her upbringing and baggage don’t help her make friends. That being said, she trusted Jack from the start. She’s the 1st person she could talk to freely. Unfortunately for them, besides her shyness, Ian Devlin(Jack’s father) fucks up with their lives. Ms Young gives us the defining moments of their relationship and past together and it breaks my heart.
That being said, this is not a sad book, it’s emotional, it has some drama, but the ending… *sigh* it’s everything I could have wished for. I hope Ms Young will give us Ivy’s book, Cat’s(Cooper’s sister) book, and a lot of updates on the established couples. I loved this book and I recommend it to anyone who’s in the mood for a well written romance.
In The Truest Thing Samantha Young once again, managed to give us the perfect combination of emotional roller coaster, fun, laugh out loud moments, suspense, and examples of true friendship, all of it wrapped up in a beautiful love story with a bow on top.
I was looking forward to this one, because, for me, Emery Saunders and Jack Devlin were the most intriguing characters in this little town. She is the mysterious, beautiful but shy owner of a bookstore/coffee shop on the Hartwell Boardwalk. Jack is handsome, brooding, good guy turned bad, who had this air of sadness following him whenever he appeared. I was so curious about him, about his story, because he used to be Cooper’s best friend, until he betrayed him, and with that also turned his back to his others friends, when he started to work to his a hole, conniving father. Well this book reveals it all.. and then some. It holds quite a few surprises, and I just loved how all the puzzle pieces fell into place.
Who knew, that while everyone was living their lives Jack and Emery had their own, little secret but OH MY GOODNESS SUCH HOT encounters. It was love at first sight for them. Their chemistry is palpable every time they meet. Jack just melted my heart. He has an intense presence, he is sexy and sweet in the same time. I loved the endearment he gave Emery. He made me swoon, and there were times when I really wanted to hug him, and times when he acted so stupid, I felt the greatest need to slap the stupid right out of him. lol. Of course, Emery turned out to be amazing under all that shyness, and it was wonderful to experience how she evolved, and blossomed thanks to Bailey, Jess, Dahlia, Ivy and even Jack’s influence. She has the most original way of cursing, classy and lady like, but when she is mad you can also see that Bailey has rubbed off on her quite a bit, and it was a pretty great.
Another aspect I loved about it was the BONUS HEA of the two other characters from the bunch!
The friendship between all these characters is so awesome I wish I could pack my bags and move to Hartwell to be part of it.
The Truest Thing is now my favorite book in the Hart’s Boardwalk series, right there on top with Every Little Thing, which is Bailey and Vaughn’s story.
P.S. Joey OMG HE WAS THE CUTEST!!!! I really hope Cat’s story is next! Pretty pleeeeease Sam!!!!
Here is a little taste>
“… he had the kindest eyes I’d ever seen. … However, those kind eyes that could morph into a smoldering gaze…”
“Jack trusted his instincts. He knew he’d never meet a purer heart then the one that belonged to this beautiful woman.”
“sunrise”
“… You’re perfect in all your perfection and imperfections. So You’re still perfect.”
“You make living worthwhile and if it had taken me ten, thirty, or fifty f*cking years to convince you to give me a shot, then that’s how long I would’ve waited. There will never be another woman for me. Never. It wouldn’t be fair to any woman to share my life with them, when I belong so completely to you.”
Ah, my heart! I absolutely love Jack and Emery’s story!
I am overwhelmed with emotion. I was so glad to finally see Jack for who he really is, know what has been going on with him, and see him be so open and vulnerable. He’s amazing! And he and Cooper melt my heart. Their friendship is everything.
I loved seeing Emery open up and finally find her place in Hartwell. Jack and Emery have such intense chemistry. Their journey is emotional and filled with hope. I teared up so many times throughout this story. It’s simply beautiful!
I just love the characters of this series. I’m sad to see it end. What a fabulous series.